Lighter for bottled-gas torches



Nov. 3, 1964 VEN'TOR5- AIM/all! Whey/f United States Patent 3,154,936 LEGHTER FOR BOTTLED-GAS TQRCHES Frank Primich and Robert J. Neidigh, Crown ioint, End,

assignors to Products Research and Development Corporation, Gary, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Dec. 31, 1963, Ser. No. 334,768 4- Claims. (Cl. 6720.l)

This invention relates to an improved torch lighter or igniter adapted for use as an auxiliary attachment to the burner or fuel tubes of he bottled-gas portable torches, normally propane torches, which have in recent years become a familiar workshop and field tool for a variety of industrial and hobby purposes.

Various constructions have heretofore been suggested for torch-lighting devices of the general type here involved, the utility long being obvious, but no prior construction has proved commercially successful, all being found unsatisfactory for widespread sale and use. Any which have proven satisfactory from the functional standpoint when subjected to actual use have been too expensive in manufacturing cost. Very low cost is a practical necessity in achieving widespread use of such a convenience accessory for the propane torches, which themselves owe their popularity in large degree to extremely low cost. However, the low cost cannot be achieved at the expense of convenience or efliciency in use; furthermore, in order to obtain the benefit or mass-production as a cost factor, it is a practical necessity that a single model of the accessory be adapted for equally convenient and efficient use with a large variety of torches of various manufacturers, and with a large variety of the various types of burner heads with which such torches may be equipped for various uses.

The present improved construction afiords an auxiliary torch ignition attachment which supplies these deficiencies in prior devices for the purpose. The manner in which this is accomplished, and accordingly the teachings of the invention, will best be understood from the description given below of the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a lighter or igniter assembly embodying the invention, as installed on a propane torch;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of the parts comprising the igniter assembly;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional detail to enlarged scale of the igniter head, taken along line 3-3 of FlGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the clamp plate structure with the torch tube seen in section along line 4-4 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation to reduced scale showing the igniter in use with a different type of burner tip.

Referring to FIGURES 1 through 4 of the drawing, the invention is illustrated with a conventional propane torch comprising a burner head or tip removably attached to the end or" an angularly formed fuel tube 11 by means of a suitable threaded coupling 12 between these parts, the opposite end of the fuel tube being fitted with a combination shut-off valve and coupling nipple 13 engaging the threaded end 14 of the usual liquid-gas fuel tank 15.

The ignition device comprises an elongated tubular arm 2t having its inner end 21 flattened by deformation of the originally uniformly circular tube. The flat end 21 is apertured at 22 to pass a pivot screw 23 secured by a nut 24 which clamps the end 21 between the outer ends of a pair of plates 25 having at their inner ends jaw or clamp portions 26 gripping the fuel tube in assembly with the latter.

Each jaw 215 is formed by an outward bend Zea at an 3,1543% Patented Nov. 3, 1964 angle of approximately 45 degrees and an inward bend 26b at approximately a right angle. Closely adjacent to the bends 26a, the plates are apertured at 250 to pass a clamping or mounting screw 26d which is secured by a nut 26a with sufiicient tension to grasp the tube 11 securely, a lockwasher being used if desired.

It will be observed upon study that the relation between the parts as so far described would, if the material of the plates 25 were completely rigid, produce interrelation between the size of the torch tube 11 and the frictional engagement between the plates 25 and the end 21 of the tube 2th of the lighter accessory. Proper selection of the material of the plates 25, however, makes the simple structure illustrated fully suitable for universal use without supplemental provision such as springs or other additional parts for maintaining the lighter in a withdrawn position. By using a material of suflicient resilience to permit slight deformation by mere manual tightening of the screws, the clamping or frictional action on the end of the lighter tube is made substantially independent of the size of the torch tube on which the device is installed, and further permits suitable adjustment of the friction to accommodate wear at the pivot point, any permanent set occurring with time, and similar factors. At the same time, however, it is unnecessary, in installing the lighter on a torch, to bend or deform the plates in any manner except for the slight resilient deformation which occurs in tightening the screws to the desired degree. A suitable material for the plates is cold-rolled steel of thickness of to 55 mils, preferably nickel plated for appearance and corrosion resistance.

Into the outer end 28 of the igniter tube 20 is forcefitted a knurled cup or plug 30 having a closed bottom wall 31 and an internally threaded bore 32. This plug 30 serves as a seat and mounting base for the remaining parts of the ignition portion. An externally-threaded stem 44 has on its external end a yoke portion defined by arms or posts 41. A bore 42 extends through the stem and has therein a pyrophoric element or sparking flint 43 urged outwardly by a compression spring 44, the inner end of which seats on the closed end 31 of the cup or plug 36. Rotatably mounted between the arms 41 is the usual abrading or sparking wheel 4-5, mounted on a pin 46, with the flint 43 in contact therewith in the usual fashion.

A lock nut 48 is provided on the stem 46 The angular position of the ignitionhead relative to the tube 2% and the burner head may be adjusted so as to direct the spark at the angle found most eflicient with respect to the fiow pattern of the efliuent gas with any particular torch and head.

In use, the igniter is clamped onto the fuel tube in the manner depicted in FIGURE 1 in such location along the length of the tube as to dispose the sparking wheel 4d and associated flint in such relation to the mouth of the head or tip it) as will best direct the sparks properly into the gas flow pattern of the particular burner head or tip. As will be seen in FIGURE 1, the present construction with the pivot 23 substantially outward from the jaws 26 and the screw 26d which secures them, permits location of the spark wheel directly at the orifice of the gas jet, with the spark directed substantially crosswise of the gas flow at such angle as may be desired (normally diametrically across the mouth, but across chords other than the diameter in the case of certain flow patterns where ignition is thus most easily achieved).

In some types of burner attachment, of which the soldering tip 5% shown in FIGURE 5 is one example, gas must be ignited through sidewise air ports 52, the location of which on the burner body may not always be readily adjustable, but the several sliding and pivotal'adustments oi the body tube 2%) and the sparking wheel 45 described above permit simple employment of the lighter with such constructions, as well as with burner heads having distribution patterns which are not of circular symmetry, without loss of efiiciency.

Persons skilled in the art will readily utilize the teachings of the invention, after study, to design embodiments of the invention differing in appearance and details, but nevertheless incorporating the novel structure. Accordingly, the scope of the protection to be given the invention shall be determined solely from the appended What is claimed is:

1. An igniter accessory for a gas torch comprising:

(a) a circular tubular body flattened at the inner end,

([1) clamping plates on each side of the flattened end,

(0) a pivot member passing through the clamping plates and said end and including manually adjustable tightening means ror frictionally engaging the tube,

(at) jaws on the clamping plates adapted for engagement of the fuel tube or" a tank,

(8) second manually adjustable tightening means extending between the clamping plates adjacent to the jaws for tightening such engagement,

(1) the clamping plates being of material and thickness resiliently yielding in response to manual tightening of said respective tightening means,

(g) an integrally threaded cup-shaped plug in the outer end of the tube,

(11) an internally apertured yoke having a spark Wheel mounted for rotation on the outer end and having a tubular inner end threadedly engaged in the plug,

(j) a pyropnoric element within the inner end of the yoke, and a spring within the plug urging the element against the spark Wheel, and

(k) a nut on the threaded portion of the yoke locl'ing its rotational position.

2. An'igniter accessory for a gas torch comprising:

(a) a circular tubular body flattened at the inner end,

(b) clamping plates on each side of the end,

(c) a pivot member passing through the clamping plates and said end and including manually adjustable tightening means for frictionally engaging the tube,

(cl) jaws on the clamping plates adapted for engage ment of the fuel tube of a torch,

(e) second manually adjustable tightening means extending between the clamping plates adjacent to the jaws for tightening such engagement,

(f) the clamping plates being of material and thickness resiliently yielding in response to manual tightening of said respective tightening means, and

(g) an igniter head on the outer end of the tube.

3. In a torch lighter of the class described, a pyrophoric igniter head of the fiint-and-wheel type including a sparking wheel and a yoke mount therefor, said mount having a threaded stem with an internal bore aligned with said wheel and containing a pyrophoric element engaging the Wheel; and supporting means for the igniter head comprising an elongated tube having means at the outer end for coaxial threaded engagement of the stem whereby the latter may be displaced about the common axis of the stem and tube; means on said stem for locking the same and the igniter head in positions or adjustment as aforesaid; and means for attaching said tube to a tubular torch part and comprising a clamp adapted to seize torch part, said clamp having opposed fiat face portions apertured to receive a pivot member, said tube having its inner end flattened and apertured, a pivot member engaged in the apertures of said tube and clamp to secure the same for relative pivotal movement, said pivot member being adjustable to vary the frictional engagement of the flattened end by the clamp, the clamp having a second adjustable securing means for varying the tightness of seizure of the torch part.

4-. in an ignition attachment for use with a gaseous fuel torch of the type having a burner nozzle or head at the end of an elongated fuel tube, improvements comprising: an elongated body tube deformed to provide a flat portion at one end and said fiat portion being clamped pivotally between a pair of fiat clamp plates each having offset jaw parts cooperable with the other in assembly with said body tube to seize said fuel tube; means engaging said clamp plates for tightening or loosening the seizure or the fuel tube thereby to permit adjusting movement thereof along or about the latter tube; said body tube having a plug fitted in its end opposite from said flat, said plug having an internally threaded bore terminating opposite a closed end of the plug inwardly of the body tube; and an ignition unit comprising a yoke rotatively seating an abrading wheel, together with a stem threaded to engage in the bore oi said plug, said stem having a bore to receive pyrophoric components disposed in both said bores for cooperation with said wheel; and a lock nut interposed on the threading of said stem to lock against the end of the body tube for securing said ignition unit in positions of angular and linear adjustment about and along an axis through said bores and said body tube.

rieterences Cited in the file of this patent UNETED STATES PATENTS 1,416,845 Lavigne May 23, 1922 2,826,904 Williamson Mar. 18, 1958 3,352,112 Wheeler Sept. 4, 1962 

3. IN A TORCH LIGHTER OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, A PYROPHORIC IGNITER HEAD OF THE FLINT-AND-WHEEL TYPE INCLUDING A SPARKING WHEEL AND A YOKE MOUNT THEREFOR, SAID MOUNT HAVING A THREADED STEM WITH AN INTERNAL BORE ALIGNED WITH SAID WHEEL AND CONTAINING A PYROPHORIC ELEMENT ENGAGING THE WHEEL; AND SUPPORTING MEANS FOR THE IGNITER HEAD COMPRISING AN ELONGATED TUBE HAVING MEANS AT THE OUTER END FOR COAXIAL THREADED ENGAGEMENT OF THE STEM WHEREBY THE LATTER MAY BE DISPLACED ABOUT THE COMMON AXIS OF THE STEM AND TUBE; MEANS ON SAID STEM FOR LOCKING THE SAME AND THE IGNITER HEAD IN POSITIONS OF ADJUSTMENT AS AFORESAID; AND MEANS FOR ATTACHING SAID TUBE TO A TUBULAR TORCH PART AND COMPRISING A CLAMP ADAPTED TO 